Analysis: Italy as Bush's special friend?

ROME, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Who is the only major European leader to appear in Manhattan for the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington?

Which European Union head of state was the first to declare full support for a future U.S.-led attack on Iraq?

And who among the EU leadership has been the only one to express sympathy over the U.S. controversial opposition to the Kyoto treaty on global warming?

Those who answered Britain's Tony Blair would be in the majority, but wrong. Blair has been Washington's most visible ally in Europe for years, but that hasn't been for a lack of trying on the part of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Even though Italy lacks the linguistic, cultural and historical ties that contribute to the so-called "special relationship" between Washington and London, the effort to build his own special friendship with the United States is one Berlusconi takes seriously.

For example, the media tycoon-turned-politician left for New York on Sept. 10 to be at Ground Zero for the commemoration ceremonies related to the attack even though President George W. Bush could not meet with him until four days later. And while even Blair faces criticism at home over support for the aggressive U.S. stance over Iraq, Berlusconi silenced his critics this week when he reiterated that Italy stood ready to back the United States in its plan to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein even without the blessing of the United Nations.

Even the Kyoto Protocol -- probably the most clearly defined political issue separating the United States and Europe -- is not beyond Berlusconi's desire to see both sides. Just after taking office last year, the 65-year-old leader sparked a firestorm of criticism from his EU counterparts when he said that Europe should consider some of the virtues of the U.S. opposition to the agreement, though he later recanted and Italy has since ratified it.

"Because of his media background, the prime minister clearly knows the value of making important gestures," Massimo Arno, a political scientist with Roma Tre University, told United Press International. "He is trying to make it clear that in Italy, Washington has a loyal friend."

One problem, however, is that few seem to notice the role Berlusconi is so eager to play. When recently re-elected German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sought to mend relations with Washington after campaign rhetoric critical of U.S. plans regarding Iraq, he flew to London -- not Rome -- for counsel. And when Bush sought to sell Europe on the dangers represented by Saddam Hussein's leadership in Iraq, he dialed Blair and not Berlusconi.

Berlusconi has even suffered the indignity of explaining to his constituents why Italy was only on Washington's b-list when it came to military action in Afghanistan. While Bush himself called Blair and counterparts in Canada, France, Germany and Japan to alert them to the pending bombardment of Afghanistan last year, Berlusconi revealed that he had been notified only by Vice President Dick Cheney -- though Italian experts say that status has likely changed since then.

"Mr. Berlusconi's loyalty is paying dividends with a U.S. president who counts loyalty as a very important quality," political commentator Claudio Testino told UPI. "There isn't a lot of public acknowledgement, but those in power in Washington know that Italy is an ally that can be counted on."

One silver lining for Berlusconi is that he has been able to emulate Blair's efforts to support American interests in many areas while at the same time trying not to alienate European neighbors without facing the kind of domestic backlash that has hurt Blair.

"The British press has portrayed Mr. Blair as a puppet controlled by Washington, but in Italy, the prime minister is still seen very much as his own man," Testino said.

The reasons for that, pollsters say, are related to Berlusconi's sky-high popularity levels and an attention to domestic issues that opponents criticize Blair for lacking. A building public distrust toward the Muslim world represented by Iraq and Afghanistan is a factor as well.

Despite his support for international U.S. policies, Berlusconi's main initiatives since taking office last year have all been domestic: a controversial reform of the country's labor laws, rules tied to the leader's own conflict of interest problems, and vows not to raise taxes even after calls from Brussels for increased fiscal discipline.

Berlusconi's government has also taken a tough stance on limiting illegal immigration, much of it from Muslim countries, that Italians believe has been responsible for the country's rising crime rate.

"Many of Berlusconi's initiatives are controversial or even downright unpopular, but nobody can say he is ignoring the domestic agenda," Maria Rossi, co-director of the polling firm Opinioni, told UPI. "It also helps the prime minister that the U.S. friction with Iraq and Afghanistan comes at a time when Muslim immigrants are suffering from hostile public opinion, even though few of the immigrants come from those countries."

One aspect that might hurt Berlusconi's popularity, according to Rossi, is his support for possible military action against Iraq. Polls show that around 70 percent of Italians oppose such a move, though support for it has not hurt Berlusconi's popularity levels, which remain safely above the 60-percent level even in the wake of his saber rattling.

"As things stand, nearly a third of Italians support the prime minister but oppose the idea of a war in Iraq," Rossi said, but added, "That is a contradiction that cannot continue indefinitely."